Crystal meth

Snorting, swallowing, smoking, booty bumping and via injection. Using meth is called ‘tweaking’ and injecting it is called ‘slamming’.

Taking crystal meth results in increased blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature. The bodily effects include a feeling of high energy and strength, delayed and prolonged orgasm, increased endurance and overcoming physical limits and pain. It can lead to a feeling of intense euphoria, enhanced focus, extreme horniness, sustained desire for sex and of overcoming sexual inhibitions. greater self-confidence and of enhanced coordination. It can make you feel more sociable, impulsive and reduces the sense of time.

The effects may be very different for different people.

Remember that many drugs appear the same when crushed to a whitish powder. Always ensure the drug you are taking is what you expect it to be.

Crystal meth can result in an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, coma or death. You may go for days without eating or sleeping because crystal meth suppresses appetite and keeps you awake.

The comedown can leave you feeling exhausted, irritable, paranoid or psychotic. In some cases even suicidal. It can also result in stomach problems such as acid reflux or gastritis.

Crystal meth quickly builds tolerance in the body, requiring increased doses for the same high. It is highly addictive.

Long-term use can lead to lasting mental health problems, including psychosis. Quitting is challenging, but it is possible to stop and make a full recovery.

Heavy use of crystal meth can lead to loss of job, home, money, relationships, and poor dental health. Even people experienced in controlled use of other drugs can struggle with crystal meth.

Psychosis is when people lose contact with reality. This might involve seeing or hearing things that other people can’t (hallucinations)and believing things that are not actually true (delusions). ‘Drug-induced psychosis’ is commonly experienced by users of crystal meth. It can be very frightening for those experiencing it, and those observing it.

To find out more visit our Crystal meth and mephedrone emergency page.

Taking crystal meth can make sexual experiences extremely pleasurable. However, even short-term use can result in a habitual relationship where it can become hard to think of having sex without it. Check out our page on navigating the return to sober sex.

Injecting (also known as ‘slamming’) is the most dangerous way of taking drugs. Those risks include: overdose, HIV and Hepatitis C, blood poisoning, collapsed veins, abscesses, blood clots/deep vein thrombosis, and becoming psychologically dependent on the ritual of injecting.

Veins and arteries

It’s important to know the difference between veins and arteries – injecting into an artery can kill. If you hit an artery, the blood will be brighter and will spurt rather than ooze. It’ll also be harder and more painful to inject your drugs, and the plunger will probably be forced back. It may contain frothy blood.

It you think you’ve hit an artery, pull out straight away and apply firm pressure to the injection site. If the bleeding continues for more than five minutes, seek medical help at A&E, If you’re losing blood fast, call 999.

Avoiding collapsed veins

Collapsed veins may never recover. Use a new needle if you fail to find a vein straight away.

• To reduce the risk of collapsed veins avoid injecting into the same area.
• Avoid injecting into veins in your hand – they’re too small and could collapse.
• Injecting below the waist can cause serious circulation problems if a vein is damaged.
• Never inject into a site that’s sore or swollen as this area may be infected or the vein may be blocked.
• Get to a doctor if an injection site is swollen for more than a few days, if it’s red, hot or tender or if there’s any serious bleeding, the skin changes colour, is sore or weeps.

Injecting equipment

Use surgical swabs to clean the part of the body you plan to inject (and swab after) to keep the area clean.

Know where to get clean injecting equipment and take back used equipment. Find safer using kits here.‍

Sharing needles

Sharing with people you feel close to may feel safe – it’s not. Infections can easily spread between people sharing needles.

Have one container per slam – drawing up drugs from a shared container can risk contamination with infections when the needle is dipped back in.

Don’t let one swab be used by different people – minute traces of blood on it can also pass on Hepatitis C.

Use fresh gloves for each person receiving an injection. Latex gloves worn for protection can still carry tiny amounts of infected blood between people if the person wearing them injects more than one person.

Crystal meth is a Class A drug. Possession can mean up to seven years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Intending to supply, including giving it to your friends, can mean up to life in prison and/or an unlimited fine.